John Altman – Vice Chairman
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the WANADA team, thank you for your continued membership and engagement.
The Washington metro area remains one of the most competitive automotive markets in the country. In an environment like this, having a strong, focused trade association isn’t optional — it’s essential. The regulatory and economic landscape continues to evolve, and it’s critical that dealers have a unified voice.
At the federal level, we’re seeing a more constructive and stable regulatory climate, with policymakers showing renewed interest in practical, pro-business approaches. That said, challenges remain closer to home. In both Maryland and Virginia, proposals continue to surface that could negatively impact franchised dealers. WANADA is fully engaged alongside our sister associations in Annapolis and Richmond to make sure your interests are represented and protected.
Three major operational themes continue to shape our industry, and much of WANADA’s work centers around these areas.
First, affordability remains top of mind — for our customers and for our stores. The Washington, DC Auto Show is one of our most powerful tools in addressing this. It brings policymakers and OEM leaders together for Public Policy Day and provides consumers with the opportunity to compare a wide range of brands and models in one place during the 10-day public show.
Importantly, our show is now the first in the country able to track real vehicle sales generated by attendees. That means measurable ROI for exhibitors — and real proof of value. If your brand isn’t currently participating, I strongly encourage you to connect with WANADA and take a fresh look at how accessible and impactful the show can be.
Second, fixed operations remain the backbone of dealership profitability. WANADA’s ADEI apprenticeship program has developed into the strongest technician pipeline in our region. It provides dealerships with motivated apprentices who grow into productive, full-line technicians at a fraction of traditional training costs. In today’s environment, that matters.
Third, while AI is enhancing many aspects of dealership operations — and we’re all experimenting with it — it cannot replace relationships. It cannot replace peer learning. And it cannot replace the strength of a dealer community that shares insights and supports one another. WANADA continues to create those touchpoints through events like the WANADA Open, the Annual Meeting, and even this Membership Directory. Technology can assist us, but it will never substitute for sitting across the table from a fellow dealer and having an honest conversation.
As Chairman, I’ve personally benefited from all three of these pillars — participating in the Auto Show, hiring ADEI apprentices who have grown into valuable members of our teams, and building lasting relationships through WANADA events. I’m honored to serve and grateful for your partnership as we continue working together to strengthen automotive retail across the Washington metropolitan region.
Sincerely,
John Altman
Beyer Auto Group
John O’Donnell – President & CEO
This past year has been one of the most challenging in modern history, with an unprecedented health crisis and economic uncertainty affecting everyone in ways nobody could have envisioned just 12 months ago.
While this time has created new challenges in all facets of our lives, WANADA continues to stand with the franchised auto dealers and Kindred-Line members who form the organization’s membership, just as we have for over 100 years.
In the early days of the pandemic, WANADA was able to provide continuity of service even while all of the staff was suddenly forced to work remotely. The organization helped our members understand how to keep their employees safe, and how to help wade through the sudden and drastic economic changes happening right under all of our feet.
From sourcing protective equipment, to securing federal, state, and local grant funds to help make it through the worst days of the crisis, we at WANADA have been proud to serve as a resource for our members in these times of immense need. We also accelerated some planned upgrades to our information technology system, and did so while most of the office was working remotely. These upgrades have made it easier for staff to work anywhere, while also providing members with more robust resources at a time when they are extremely valuable.
Our franchised auto dealers were able to continue providing the essential transportation services that area residents needed, even during the stay-at-home period in the early spring. Our dealers figured out quickly how to safely and efficiently provide essential services while facing both a sudden health crisis and an inventory crunch, as supply chains and plants shut down nearly overnight.
With that in mind, we want to thank the state and local leaders across the region, who accurately recognized that personal transportation, and servicing of those vehicles, remained vital during the crisis. In many ways, those services have become more important than ever.
WANADA member dealers have been through many crises in the past century – from wars, recessions, foreign and domestic turbulence, and much more. Even during this particularly scary time, our members have continued providing the reliable, responsive service that the North American franchise dealer model makes possible. Non-franchise markets globally can’t compare to this system, and 2020 reaffirmed the importance of centering local, franchised dealers at the center of automotive retail.
Before the pandemic hit, we were fortunate enough to have a successful 2020 Washington, D.C. Auto Show, which was one of our best years ever. Attendance was near an all-time high, as area residents flocked to the Washington Convention Center to see more than 600 new vehicles – including an ever-growing array of alternative fuel and advanced technology models. This market is vital for automakers who are trying to expand their electric and inter-connected vehicle lines, and we look forward to remaining a showcase for them for many years to come.
In 2021, as we hope to come out of this crisis, welcome in new leadership at the federal level, and brace for new challenges and opportunities in our state and local advocacy efforts, we will continue to need your support.
In the past year, WANADA and our advocacy partners helped secure a raise in Maryland’s dealer processing charge, reduced certain titling fees in Virginia, and defeated a proposed digital advertising tax in the District of Columbia. We have also advocated against local budget cuts that threaten the stability of the Montgomery County Police Department’s auto theft task force.
As I have noted in past years, WANADA members are some of the region’s largest providers of middle-class white- and blue-collar jobs, and we are honored to work on your behalf. Thank you for entrusting us with this great honor.
More than ever before, I speak for everyone at WANADA when I say how grateful we are for your trust and support. To all of you and your employees, and your families and theirs, thank you for everything you do for this region – in good times and bad. Stay safe, be well, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Sincerely,
John O’Donnell
President, WANADA